Surgery... or Traumatic Experience?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Stehle on April 1, 2009 at 10:20pm

I was pronounced "killed on impact" by some clueless/lazy cop who was first on the scene when I was struck on my sport bike one night by a drunk driver. Of course I didn't die, obviously, or I wouldn't be writing this. Long story short, a witness to the accident called EMT and I owe my life to her for that.

I never wrote about the story on my blog because I really don't recall much of it since I was knocked cold and drugged up for months in the hospital. So there's not a lot to tell.

I still ride today though. My Ninja was totalled so I bought a faster bike, Ducati 999r. :)

My Mom HATES the fact that the accident didn't scare me enough to quit riding sport bikes. But hey, you're only young once and I want to have some fun.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on April 1, 2009 at 10:57pm

I'd be afraid to ride a bicycle if I were you! How aren't you scared...do you ever think about another accident happening again?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David Stehle on April 3, 2009 at 7:29pm

I don't know, I think I was born with no fear. When I was a kid, I was into skating. My Dad built me this ramp that I would fly off of. Scared the shit out of my Mom, but never me.

I love an adrenaline rush and I'm usually into anything that has a good chance of killing me. I know that sounds sick, but to me it's F-U-N!

And I realize there's a good chance I could get hurt again, but that's part of motorcycles. If you don't fall at times in life, you aren't pushing yourself hard enough - that's my theory.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on April 1, 2009 at 10:56pm

I had a cyst growing between the hemispheres of my brain and I was on my way to being paralyzed... my right hand shook crazily and I had to learn to do everything with my left side. I'll forever wear have a tube in my brain. It's freaky to think about!

I never blog about and it's very rare I even discuss the surgery & traumatic events... no thanks, I'm leaving those alone in my posts.

What happened to you?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by cooper on April 1, 2009 at 11:53pm

I've had surgery but only when younger and it wasn't all that traumatic. I've had broken ribs and a concussion from getting thrown off a snowmobile, I am sure I wrote about it, I was probably just starting my first blog then as a freshman in college, but i can't really remember. It wasn't that traumatic though, just stopped me from snowboarding for that year. Other than that anything really traumatic from a personal standpoint I don't write about, though I might have been somewhat more dramatic as a sophomore in college when writing about the freak out term I had after my grandmother's death, I pretty much keep that stuff to real life discussions.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mika...Dancing Through Life! on April 2, 2009 at 9:48am

David, like you i'm a bike rider...Kat like you, I had knee surgery. Last June while riding my bike i fell and fractured my knee. I was in so much pain and could not move, EMT picked me up from the scene and I was in the hospital for 2 weeks before they even began surgery. Doctors said they had to wait until the swelling went down. I was in so much pain and was on the verge of a mental breakdown mainly because I'm a very mobile and independent person who likes to be active and do things on her own. So not being able to walk and use a wheelchair and crutches for 5 months was the worse thing for me. The surgery left me with a long scar on my right leg and a plate and screws in my knee for the rest of my life.
At this point I am still healing and have to take my time when I walk. I get minor pain once in a while. However, the entire experience has me a little mentally and emotionally scorned, I'm so sensitive to jokes about the disabled, injured, wheelchair bound etc. I Feel like no one understands what I went through or am going through unless they have had a similar situation.
Also I'm paranoid something will happen again that might be worse. I started this discussion because my friend and I were talking and he joked 'you lucky you didnt have your leg amputated haha'...I just pretty much gave him a lecture on why thats not funny and how this experience was and still is very traumatic for me and jokes like that really hurt.
I love life so much more now and I thank God for my legs and being able to walk...the experience gave me a new and special outlook on life. I have never written a blog about it but I'm considering it because I have alot of feelings I want to get out and I know there are others who can identify.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David Stehle on April 3, 2009 at 7:30pm

Hey, what kind of bike do you have - sport bike?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kendall on April 2, 2009 at 10:00am

I had my knee pretty much snapped the summer before my senior year in a fire but I only vaguely remember the details. What I do know is that physical therapy was one of the most painful experiences of my life.

• ▶ Reply